The first gay rights rally in support of same sex marriage was held recently near the office of independent Member of Parliament Bob Katter.

Around 70 people held post at Simpson Street, in Mount Isa, Queensland, holding placards with the words "break tradition not hearts," "love is for everybody," and "a gay marriage is what every couple wants," and chanted "love is love."

"Time to start walking Bob", was printed on one poster to refer to his famous comment made in the 1980s stating that he found more than 0.00001 per cent of people in his electorate were homosexual he would walk backwards from Bourke to Brisbane, said a Northwest Star report.

James Newburrie, Equal Love Rally organiser and an openly homosexual man, said that he should start walking. He even invited Katter to walk with him from Mount Isa to Cloncurry to collect money for raising awareness of youth suicide.

Newburrie said that young homosexuals were more likely to commit suicide than straight kids, and Katter's comments worsened homophobic attitudes, said a Weekly Times Now report.

"The hope was the rally would be a demonstration against homophobia," he said.

With the crowd turnout, Newburrie remarked that he was "overwhelmed" by the support.

"I expected it to be one short, fat guy with a sign and there are nearly 70 people here in support of this cause," he said.

"Thirty-nine per cent of the voters in (Mr Katter's federal electorate of) Kennedy were mildly opposed to same-sex marriage, that's a minority," Mr Newburrie said.

The demonstration was attended by gay men, lesbians, same-sex attracted singles and couples from as far as Cairns. It was also represented by straight local residents supporting equal rights. Children were also present.

"Rather than constantly speaking to earn cheap publicity, I wish Mr Katter would listen to his electorate."

"We all work in his community, we serve him - we're in the shops and the banks - everything," a protester said.

"He doesn't want to acknowledge that we're here, he just wants to ridicule us."

Together for seven years now, Mount Isa lesbian couple Hayley Anderson and Tania Beaman, said they joined the demonstration because they wanted the right to get married.

"We just want to get married, we in love and it's time," she said.

"We just need to get with the times."

Lauren Jeffs, who is not homosexual, said she went to the rally to support the plight of gay people wanting to marry.

"It's ridiculous that in this day and age we're denying people the right to get married," she said.

"I'm not gay but equality is something I feel really strongly about."

Some of the homosexuals present said that they have been inspired by Newburrie's commitment to support the right of people to marry someone of the same sex.

"You don't have to be gay to understand," Newburrie added. "This is all about civil rights. "This is about people loving the people who they love and having the right to marry who they choose."

32,001 Signatures for Equal Love

Newburrie stated that this cause to change Katter's ideas on gay marriage will continue until 32,001 signatures have been collected in support of equal love.

This is meant to overshadow the 32,000 signatures opposing same sex marriage that Katter collected through Family Voice Australia.

Katter's Australian Party has 21 core principles, including one stating that "marriage between a man and woman should be upheld because it is better for society, the economy and children." His controversial comment that the "idea of same-sex marriage deserved to be ridiculed" prodded gay half-brother, Carl Katter, to go public and defend homosexuals.

So far, Newburrie's campaign in support of equal love has gained 8,793 signatures, and still open for more supporters.